- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
190kW, 370Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe 2019 new car review
Evolution: the gradual development of something.
Mercedes-Benz has spent the better part of the last 100 years evolving and improving the luxury car. The latest generation C-Class Coupe is a perfect example of that, taking an already quality luxury vehicle and making its slightly better with a raft of updates.
The German brand offers a broad C-Class range, with the Coupe and Cabriolet joined by the four-door sedan and wagon. We’re testing the C300 Coupe which sits between the four-cylinder C200 and the more potent, twin-turbo V6 C43 AMG models.
- Stylish road presence
- Cabin blends tradition and modernity
- Loaded with safety gear
- Engine lacks real kick
- Ride can by busy at times
- Small rear seats
Is the Mercedes-Benz C300 right for me?
If you’re looking for a stylish and sophisticated luxury coupe, then the C300 has appeal. However, if you’re more interested in performance than comfort, then you may want to consider other options as the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four offers solid grunt but is far from electrifying.
What does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 cost?
It not only sits between the C200 and C43 in terms of performance but also price, starting at $85,500 plus on-road costs. That’s a $17,200 premium over the C200 but $27,100 more affordable than the C43 AMG.
What is the Mercedes-Benz C300 's interior like?
The cabin is one area where Mercedes’ evolutionary philosophy has paid off, blending traditional luxury elements with the latest in technology.
The former includes the Black Ash open-pore wood, aluminium trim and genuine leather upholstery (which replaces artificial leather in the C200).
Then there’s the modern elements, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 10.2-inch infotainment screen with touchpad control as well as the premium Burmester 13-speaker surround-sound system. It's technology blending with tradition to create an ambience of genuine luxury and sophistication.
How much space does the Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe have?
The Mercedes coupe’s style is backed up by comfortable seating - power adjustable sports front buckets trimmed in quality leather. The front seats offer firm padding and good lateral support, which hold you in place snuggly.
But while there’s good room up front, the rear is a different story. Getting into the two individual rear seats is straightforward, thanks to the power seats that tilt and slide out of the way with one pull of the lever.
Climbing aboard is easy too, but once in the back there is limited space, especially for adults, with headroom restricted by the coupe’s sloping roofline. Kneeroom is also tight unless the front seat occupants sacrifice their own comfort.
There are air-conditioning vents and cupholders in the back, so if you’re small enough to get comfortable you’re well catered for.
The boot is generous for a coupe, deep and wide and with a ski hatch through to the rear-seats to carry longer items.
What's the Mercedes-Benz C300 's tech like?
Adding technology was one of the key changes for this mid-life C-Class upgrade. The new digital instrument panel and large infotainment screen are standard and replace an analogue dashboard and smaller screen.
It makes a big difference not only to the appearance of the cabin but also the user-friendliness of the car. The handsome new steering wheel has touch-sensitive controls that allow you to scroll through a variety of data and displays on the instrument panel.
How reliable is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 ?
Another benefit to Mercedes’ evolutionary approach is dependability. When spending more than $85K on a car, you should reasonably expect peace-of-mind. The latest C-Class feels incredibly well bolted together in the way you’d expect of a three-pointed-star vehicle.
How safe is the Mercedes-Benz C300 ?
Safety is more comprehensive than ever before with the C300 coming standard with the brand’s Driving Assistance Package Plus, which includes autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning (that is so finely-tuned it detected a bird during our review), evasive steering assist, active blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist and active lane change assist. It also includes Mercedes-Benz’s latest autonomous driving functionality, combining the active steering assistance with adaptive cruise control to drive itself for short periods under the right circumstances.
It also comes with traffic sign recognition, a 360-degree camera and nine airbags.
What is the Mercedes-Benz C300 's warranty like?
All Mercedes are covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty. That’s still normal in the luxury market but most mainstream brands have extended to five-year/unlimited kms so the upper end of the market needs to do some catching up.
What are the on-going costs for the Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe?
Mercedes Australia is still finalising the capped-price servicing program for the updated model, but the pre-facelift C300 set you back $396 for the first year and $792 for visits two and three - a total of $1980, which is expensive for the first three years but not uncommon at this end of the market.
Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 value for money?
Value can be hard to quantify with luxury cars. The image and emotional appeal that comes from owning a luxury car can account for a large part of the price premium over a more mainstream offering.
What can be quantified is the equipment you get for your $85,500. The C300 boasts 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG styling touches, ‘diamond’ radiator grille, LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, digital radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and navigation. That’s on top of the previously mentioned digital displays, Burmester sound system and leather upholstery.
What's under the Mercedes-Benz C300 's bonnet?
Like so many modern cars the C300 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, due to its balance of performance and economy. The unit in the C300 is tuned to produce 190kW of power and 370Nm and is paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
While that’s not sports-car worthy, the C300 does offer good punch for a luxury coupe. It feels sprightly off the mark and has good mid-range punch for day-to-day driving. Dial up Sport in the drive mode settings and the engine feels more responsive but it still runs out of puff when you really push it hard.
There’s just the right amount of refinement in the cabin, though, with unnecessary noise filtered out and only a gentle four-pot growl coming through.
In other words, while not a high-performance engine, it offers what you’d want in a comfortable luxury coupe.
How much fuel does the Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe use?
The official combined cycle rating is 7.0L/100km but our time suggests you’ll be using significantly more than that if you don’t do a lot of highway miles. On our predominantly urban test drive we saw a return of approximately 12.6L/100km on the car’s own trip computer.
What's it like to drive the Mercedes-Benz C300 ?
Steady improvement over many years has resulted in a polished manner when you get behind the wheel. Once again it’s worth noting that despite the two-door body and the AMG rims, the C300 is far more a luxury car that a sports coupe.
It’s most at home cruising quietly and gently, with relaxed steering and a comfortable ride over smoother roads. However, on less-than-perfect surfaces the suspension can get busy which unsettles the cabin.
The autonomous safety technology works well for the most part, especially in heavy traffic - the car can largely take-over controlling the speed and keeping you inside the lane. However, it does tend to wander within the lane so it’s best you keep a light hand on the tiller, which is also required by law.
While active steering has its benefits, for those who prefer having complete control of the car its subtle inputs can become annoying at times, as it feels like the car is fighting against your own instincts.
How does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 compare to the competition?
The C300 Coupe has two arch-rivals - Audi’s A5 and BMW’s 4-Series. The A5 2.0 TFSI quattro is priced from $81,700 while the 430i starts at $82,500.
The Lexus RC300 is also powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine but undercuts its German rival significantly, starting at $66,174 for the Luxury grade and $74,529 for the F-Sport.
Drive's Verdict
The C-Class is a great example of automotive evolution, as it has become the benchmark for luxury coupes after years of incremental improvements. These latest updates continue to build on that process, introducing more technology that keeps it contemporary without sacrificing the luxury that made it so desirable in the first place.
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